If it's going to work in the
real world, a bicycle caravan needs to be small enough to stow and be transported
easily and yet big enough for real comfort. Yet it mustn't be too big or you
won't be able to get anywhere with it. It would also be nice if it was cheap
to build, was aerodynamic and light so it was easy to tow. And wouldn't it
be great if you could fit in a sailing dinghy and take that camping as well.
Well you may not believe this but the Foldavan does all this and more.

Not everyone is going to
start their biking holiday from their home base so it is imperative that the
Foldavan can pack away small enough so it can be easily carried to another
destination. The Foldavan compresses to just 210 mm wide and will fit on
most car roof racks. Another
advantage of this narrow 'Stow Mode' is that your Foldavan can be safely
stowed away somewhere indoors without it getting in the way when you're not
using it.

On the road, the Foldavan
opens to 60 cm. This is about the same as the width of most handlebars. If
you can pass with your bicycle you can probably pass with the Foldavan. It
has a low centre of gravity so it is able to negotiate even quite rough
terrain (especially when laden) If it is windy you can unzip the sides to
let the wind pass through and stop it from getting blown over. With a
trailer you can carry a lot more stuff than if you only had a bicycle. This
increases your comfort levels.

When you arrive at your
chosen camp site it takes less than five minutes to put the Foldavan in
'Camping Mode', a full metre wide and over a metre of headroom. The thick
mattress is in two pieces and ensures extreme comfort and jealous looks from
your neighbours. You can camp in places where you wouldn't be able to pitch
a tent. You don't have to worry about stones poking you in the back, rough
or sloping terrain, insects, damp ground, sudden rain etc. If you would like a slightly
wider version you can even build a Foldavan to be a wopping 1.2 metres wide.

The concise illustrated plans
cost just 40 Euros and contain a wealth of information for the first time builder
or the experienced alike. Lots of advice on where to find the materials you
need. How to work with tools, advice on alternative building options, how to
finish your Foldavan and lots more. Even if you've never made anything like
this in your life, if you are prepared to have a go and have a few basic
tools you can build yourself a Foldavan and personalise it in any way you
like.

You could change the fabric,
cover it in a camouflage fabric and use it as a hide or just to blend in to
nature better. You could have a pink one or have zebra stripes. You could do
you own paint job on it. The choices are almost endless. The materials
needed to build a Foldavan are all easy to find almost anywhere in the world
in varying qualities to suit your budget. You could make a Foldavan for next
to nothing using reclaimed timber and secondhand parts. It takes about 50
hours to build a Foldavan.

The Carbon Footprint of a
Foldavan is small because all the materials are easy to find and can be
sourced locally. As if this wasn't already fantastic enough Woodenwidget
will plant 5 trees on your behalf when you buy plans. Plans can be bought on line and downloaded in a matter or
minutes.